Music Performing Arts Competition Corp. President Daniel Quitugua speaks to Rotarians during their meeting Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza Resort.
Music Performing Arts Competition Corp. Treasurer Arlene Reyes at the Saipan Rotary Club meeting on Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza Resort.
THE Marianas Got Talent contest, hosted by Music Performing Arts Competition Corp. or MPACC, will now be held on Nov. 26 at the Saipan World Resort, MPACC President Daniel Quitugua told the Saipan Rotary Club on Tuesday.
“It’s going to be a grand show,” MPACC Treasurer Arlene Reyes added.
Previously known as the Battle of the Voices, the Marianas Got Talent contest was originally set for Nov. 25 at the Governor Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center.
Quitugua and Reyes spoke with the Rotarians during their general membership meeting on Oct. 31 at the Crowne Plaza Resort.
The two said they were seeking financial support for their organization, which is dedicated to developing musical talent in the Marianas.
The organization also aims to send local performers to compete off-island, including in national contests such as The Voice or America’s Got Talent.
“Our goal is to consistently have a competition here to find someone who can represent us, the Marianas — and we know that we have those talents,” Reyes said.
At the Nov. 26 Marianas Got Talent competition, 14 contestants will vie for the chance to win cash prizes: $1,500 for first place; $1,300, second place; and $1,100 third place.
The competition began with auditions in August and September, which resulted in a pool of 24 contestants. On Oct. 21, MPACC held an elimination round where the 14 finalists were selected.
Quitugua said these competitions are a way to bring the island community together.
“There was so much pain during the last election,” he added, “so much division within our community, and we thought how can we use our collective identity to build a better community using the power of music to bring our people together?”
He told Rotarians that when the competition concludes on Saipan, MPACC plans to host similar contests on Rota and Tinian.